Can aligner



N. s. QELLS Jan. 8, 1946.

CAN ALIGNER' 1945 5 SheekS-Sheell 1 Filed Feb.` 13,

MS NDI; 0 Nm.

.QI/mad QW N. s. sr-:LLs

CAN ALIGNER' File@ Feb.l 1:5, 1945 Jan. 8, 1946.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1946. N. s. sELLs '2,392,509

v CANALIGNER Filed Feb. 1s', 1945` s sheets-sne`et s /vzA'L s. aEL/ s Patented Jan. 8, 1946 CAN ALIGNER Neal S. Sells, Hoopeston, Ill., assigner to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a. corporation of Delaware Application February 1s, 194s, serial No. 475,778

(o1. 19a-so) 4 Claims.

v The present invention relates to a can aligning machine for aligning sanitary cans 'in a desired order. y

One object of the present invention is toA provide a can aligning machine which `handles perfeetv as well as dented cans.

Another object is to provide a can aligning machine for aligning cans in a desired order and for arranging the aligned cans in a single file in rolling procession irrespective -ofany dents in the cans.'

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the can aligner of the present invention, certain parts being. `broken away while others are shown in section.

Y Fig, 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, certain portion being broken away.

-Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 3-3 of y Fig. l, certain parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is an enlargedl section of Fig. 2 taken along lines 4 4 thereof, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of Fig. 4 taken along lines 5-5 thereof, certain parts being brolfzenA away.

Fig. 6 is a section of Fig. 1 taken along vlines 8-6 thereof, certain parts being omitted.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. 5 taken along lines I-Al thereof, certain parts being omitted and illustrating a dented can positioned on the can supporting rods. f

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 'l illustrating the can in another position.

` Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modied structure of the present invention Fig. 10 is a detail View of a portion of one of the can supporting rods employed in the modied structure shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings, see Figs. land 2, I designates the frame structure of the machine which comprises front legs 2 and 3 and rear legs 4 and 5. Interposed between the front and rear legs at each side of the frame structure I are upper and lower` longitudinal frame members 6 and I respectively and diagonally extending brace memy bers 8 and 9. The frame structure I includes further upper and lower transverse frame members I I and |2 for connecting the legs on opposite sides of the machine so as to form a rigid frame structure. y

Reciprocably mounted within the frame structure I by means of bearing blocks I5 and supporting rollers I6, only one of which has been shown in Fig. Y1, is a can table comprising a bottoml, side walls I9 and 20, a front wall 2| and a plurality of longitudinally extending angle irons or guide rails 22, The front portion of the bottom I8 of thetable is nat while the middle and rear portions thereof are curved in a downward direction'in such a manner that the downward inclination of the bottom of the can table progressively increases toward the rear end of the same. y

The bearing blocks I5, above referred to, are secured to the bottom I8 ofthe can table adjacent each leg 2, 3, 4 and 6 while the supporting rollers |6, arerotatably mounted on the inner sides of the-legs 2 to 5 by means of stud bolts 25. n Each of the bearing blocks I5 is provided with a horizontal surface 26 which engages the roller I6 cooperating therewith so as to permit back and forth movement of the table I'I in av horizontal plane.

The angle irons or guide rails 22 are welded or otherwise secured to the bottom I8 of the can table andare arranged in spaced relation with respect toeach other and extend longitudinally of the machine so as to form in conjunction with the bottom I8 a plurality of can receiving troughs or guide channels 3|. These guide rails 22 are curved in thesame manneras the bottom I8 of the can table II.` The channels 3| are of such width and depth as to vreceive and support the cans lengthwise therein without wedging the cans between the inclined sidewalls of the guide rails 22. The rear ends-32 ofthe guide rails 22 extend a short distance beyond the rear end of the table I'I (see'Figs. .l and 2) while the front ends of the guidey rails terminate a considerable distance from the front end of the can table Il,

Securedto the bottom I8 of the can table I'I intermediate the front wall 2| and the front ends 33 of the guide rails 22 is a flat wooden floor 34. If desired an apron of exible fmaterial, not shown, such as rubber belting or the like, secured inan inclined position between the upper edge of the front Wall 2| and the center of the Wooden floor 34, may be provided for cushioning the 1mpact of cans discharged upon the can table I1 by an elevator 3-5.

Securedto the apex lportion of every other guide rail 22 in thevvicinity of the front ends.33

- thereof are stationary can aligning wires or rods 36 of inverted U shaped configuration, While secured to the apex portion of each guide rail 22 in` tion in a manner as shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of each can aligning spring 31 or 38 (see Fig. l) is xed to the apex portion of its supportvingA guide rail 22 -while the front end of each is a downwardly extending bearing bracket 48 to.

which a pitman 4I is pivotally secured as shown at 42 in Fig. 1. `The pitman 4| is provided with a bearing portion 42a within which a disk 43ec-,

centric'ally mounted on a sliatillfforrotation, therewith, is rotatably received so that upon rota-` tion of 'the shait 44 and the (115043, thecan tableY I1 is reciprocated in a horizontal plane longitudie@ nally with respect to the frame I. ,Y Y- V The shaft 44 is rotatably mounted within bearings-45 and 46 securedV to the legsn2 and3;` respectively, of the-frame structure, I lofi therna chine; R'otatably mounted1uponthefrfree'fendf of ftheshaft 44, which 1 extends beyond the' bear'- ing 455 exterior ot 'the framestructure I, isa belt pulley 48;? The lbelt pulley 48=lis1providedwith a female clutch member'49 cooperating'witli a male clutch member 5t`l slidablymounted upon the shaft portion V41 and keyed thereto fori rotation therewith;v A `clutch shift '1 levers 55lp-ivotally mountedona bracket 55 secured tothe leg 311s provided for shifting the lmale clutch memberi into-*andcut of engagement' theffeinale clutch' member 49-to thereby establish la-driving relationbetweenjthebelt'pulley V48 and sha-ft 44.

Positioned l'at the Airont' end of the Lmachine 'is an elevator-structure of conventionalconstruc-V tion which comprises aV frame 50-andendless conveyer chains 5| and 52 (seeFigs. l'landf2) provided with transverse 'bars 53 'adapted to `travel along a feed table 154; The endless chains' 5I and ,52j are trained around;v opposite' pairs-,of`

sprccketnvvheels jat4 the f forward and; rea-r end l'of the elevator strlrcturej35 in well known manner;

Onlyfthefsprocketwheels 55'? `and *'55* at'th'ewear end Vof, thev elevator ,structure 'beingfshown irrFigs. l and" 2; keyed to `a' shaft 51 rots'italolyv mounted' onv the The sprocket wheels: 55a" and' 55ai are.

frame' structure'5' koiithe elevator-35ffby means o.

of' bearings' 58,` only one'olf which has beenshown in Fig. 1, in anyv convenient'manner;`

Also keyed tothe shaft51 isa'sprocket Wheel' Stand trained' around the same*- and a: sprocket wheel 6I keyed toa shaft 62; is ai sprocket chain' 63' (see Fig. 1)` The shaft'62is rotatably mounted within bearings in' any, convenient'marmenon the frame structure of the elevator 35 iand carries a sprocketwheel 65`keyed theretofor'rotation therewith. Rotatably mounted within bear;-

ings 61, only, one'o-f which has been shown in Fig. 1 is a transverse shaft 68 to which a sprocket wheel li'iskeyed for rotation therewith. Trained charge 1 chute 5 8I carried thereby and upon the Yfront end of the can table I1.

, Simultaneously with the operation of the elevator 35, shaft 44 is rotated by means of belt pulley 1I" 48 and drive belt 12 effecting reciprocation of the., cantabley Ilby, means of the eccentric disc 43andpitman 4I. previously referred to. During Loperation:oftlrleelevator 35 and can table I1 in Vthe manner described, the cans deposited upon Vthe frontend of the can table travel from the frontend to the rear end thereof past the can aligning rods 35 and can aligning springs 31 and 38; While-the `canshtravelzpast the canaligning rods"v 36 rand Athe can aligning' springs, 311 and .38, they are valigned with their axes' parallel to the channelsio-r; troughs 3| .and deposited 'lengthwise therein'.4 Itlshould be noted, however, that due to the continuously increasing slope` of the can tablejl, thecans travel along the `same at a Acontinuouslyv accelerating speed sothat successive cansiin'zeach fguide .channel 32| are l. widely sepa-` ratedforneach other when -they l'reach ,the rear end of the can table I1. Y

Positionedatrhe rearendrof 'the can table' n and 98 secured with their frontv ends to theirear y legs 4-and" 5L respectively of the'iframev structure I. Braces IUI-and |021 secured'to the frameY members5-1 1-andr9 8;' respectively, near' their'rear ends l.and ltheloweren'ds of the legs 4''and 5lare employed to give the frame structure' 96'suflil cient rigidity.' Secured-to the rear ends offthe frameA members S1' and- `"Q8-"and extending trans-V verselylacrossthe rear'fend of1the-machine-is a sprocket'wheelcasingf |03 Ahaving `a.' front wall sides, and th'eb'otto'm ofsaid casingv are open (see Figpl). -f f Carried by theirame structure'and 'secured to -the Y frontV wall YI 05 of the casingVV I 83 -is a` can discharge chute III] comprising opposing sidef` walls I I I andA I2 held in spaced relation .with

Y respectfto 4each other bymeans ofspacing'rodsA Figs;l land. 2) andtrained around the same and;

the belt .pulley 48 previously referred to is a drive belt.12'.

VMounted-.upon thetlower.framemembers 1 of the frame *structurev I,',is an electric motor 15 provided, with a drive ,pulley 1 6. Trained around the drive .pulley16!anda-belt pulley 181keyed vto theshaft ,68 l'isadrive `belt 19';

From the above it will'b'e seen thatupcn op-v U3; A A III'and' II2' ininclined'position are opposing Vguide rails II5, IIB, II-1an'd'II5.V The guide-rails can" chutes I2Iland' |2I are formed with thecarl` chute I2I positioned above the chuteA IZB/(see Fig: 6); Thev can chutes I2()V and I2| areopen'at theirv ends -I 22'1andI 23respectively' and discharge the canse'intoacan,chuteI24 (see Figs: 2 and 6) Rotatably'lmounted' withir'ibearingsl I3Il"- offa Y lMounted'on the inner sides ofi the walls bearing bracket |3| (see Figs. .4, 5,'Y 7 and 8) mounted between the frame members 91 and 98 and extending transversely of the machine slightlly below the rear ends 32 of the guide rails 22,

and bearings |32 secured to the front wall 06 of the casing. |03, are can aligning and discharging rods |33.. One discharge rod. |33 is :provided for each guide rail 22 and is arranged in alignment therewith' directly below the same (see Figs. 2 and v4 to 8).V Each can discharge'rod is provided with annular grooves |36 and |31. The rods are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the body portion of. the cans,4 but less than the flange diameter of the cans so that the cans deposited upon the rods lengthwise therebetween aresupported on their flangesbetween adjacent rods. The grooves |36 and |31 are of such depth that when the cans are in suchV position that the iianges rthereof are in registration with the grooves, the cans are nol longer supported by the rods |33 and drop downwardly therebetween into the can chutes |20 or |2 To eiect a proper discharge of the cans from the rods |33 into the chutes |20 and |2|, the grooves |36 and |31 are in 'correct alignment therewith and the rear wall I2 is rearwardly inclined as shown at |40 in Fig. 4 in such' a manner as to properly guide the cans into the can discharge, chute (see Fig. 4)

The rear ends |4| of the can aligning rods |33 extend through the bearings |32 into the casing |03 (see Figs. 4 and 5.) and fixed to the rear end |4| ,ot each can aligning rod by means of a set screw |42 is a sprocket wheel |43. Rotatably mounted within bearings |44, |46 and |41 (see Fig. 1) is a shaft |48. The bearing |44 is carried by a bearing ybracket |5| secured to the lower transverse frame member |2 at the rear end of the machine (see Fig. 1) while the bearings |46 and |41 are secured to or form integral parts of supporting plates |52 and |53 attached to the side walls and |06 of the discharge chute ||0 andv casing |03, respectively.

Keyed to the rear end of the shaft |48 adjacent the rear wall |01 of the casing 03 is a sprocket wheel |56 and trained around the same and the sprocket wheels |43Y of the can aligning rods |33 is a sprocket chain |51 (see Fig. 3).

Keyed to the front end of the shaft |48 is a bevel 'gear |6| which intermeshes with a bevel gear |62 keyed to a transverse shaft |63 rotat-i ablymounted within bearings |64 and |65. The end |66 of shaft |63 carries a sprocket Wheel |61 keyed thereto and trained around the same and a sprocket-Wheel |68 keyed to shaftr 44 is a sprocket chain |66.

From the above, it will be seen thatv upon rotation of the shaft 44, shafts |63 and |48 are rotated causing a corresponding rotation of the can discharge rods |33 in a commonydir'ection.

Operation Upon operation' of the motor 15, the elevator 3 5 is actuated so as to feed cans from a source of supply to the machine and to'deposit the cans upon the front endl of the can table |1. 4 The clutch leverv 55 is shifted so as Ato engage the male clutch member 50 with the female clutch member 49 to eiect reciprocation of the can table Hand to rotate the can discharge rods |33in a common direction.

By lreason of the reciprocating movement of the can table |1, andthe rearward declination of illesemathe ansiicposted in. promiscuous posi:

the elevator35 are .advanced from the front of thetable toward the rear end thereof past the can aligning-wires 36 and can aligning iingers l 31 and38. Some of the cans will enter the troughs-3| in properly aligned position, i. e., with the axes parallel to the samewhile others will lie across the troughs 3|. Some of these cans lare alignedand deposited into'the troughs whenV they engage the aligning vwires 36. Any cans still remaining .in unaligned position engage the spring fingers 31 and/or 38and are bounced backward iby the same until they drop into the channels with theiraxes parallel to the same. In this manner all of the cans advanced rover the .can table |1 are aligned with their axes parallel to the guide channels 3| and are deposited lengthwise therein.

After the vcanshave passed the can aligning fingers 38and while the same are now in properly aligned position Within lthe guide channels 3| and continue their travel endwise in spaced relation with respect to each other toward the rear end of the can table I1, they advance pastthe rear end |8a of the can table bottom I8 and are thereupon ,solely supported between adjacent guide rails 22 and iinally slide from thesame andare depositedl lengthwise between adjacent can supporting rodsv |33.

The rear ends 32 of the guide rails 22 extend over ,the can aligning rods |33 in such a manner that they do not obstructthe grooves |36 and` |31 thereof during reciprocation of the can table I1. The rear ends of the guide rails 22 are further so positioned with respect to lthe grooves |36-that the leading end of each can sliding'along the endsv 32 of the guide rails 22 is soheld and supported by the same that during advancement of the cans toward and upon the can .aligning rods, the flange |1| ofthe cans (see Fig. 4)k is prevented from entering the grooves |36.Y VIn other words, the positional relation between the ends of the rails'22 and the grooves |36;` is such that the leading ends ,of the cans do not drop onto the rods |33 until the leading can flanges |1| have passed over the grooves |36 of adjacent rods |33. -fThereupon,l the cans tip overso that their flanges |1|y will contact the supporting rods |33 somewhere in the region between the grooves |36 and |31 as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

After the cans have tipped over, in the manner above described, the reciprocating movementof the guide rails 22 causes them to slide completely onto the Acan discharge rods so that the cans are nowV supported onftheir flanges lengthwise between adjacent rods. Due to the inclined position of thesupporting rods and the rotation of the same, which causes agcorresponding rotation of the cans supported thereon, the cans slide along the rodsA |33 until the flanges |1| and |12, at opposite lends of the cans are in registration with the grooves |36 and |31 of the can supporting rods. In ,view of the fact that the bottoms of the grooves |36 and |31 of adjacent separating rods are spaced apart a distance greater than the flange diameter of the cans and the portion of the rods intermediate their grooves are spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the body portion of the cans, the cans are no longer supported by the rods when the can nanges are in registration withthe grooves |36 and |31 and the cans drop downwardly between the aligning rods |33 intorthe discharge chute unit ||0 and fall thereupon into one of the individual can chutes |20 4or -tions upon the front end of the can table I1 by I 2 I formed hyf-the guide railsll 5;=.I Eiland z Ill'fl; I IB-'Iin conjunction withftheffront fandrear f-walls I I I and; II 22,'respective1y; ofi the;I dischargennit' rear wa1l I I 2- o'f the'fcan discharge-'unit I I Il: functions lto properly"guidexthefallirrga cans Linto; oneI of lthe respective lchutesffl or| 2.| positioned bei.

` lowjthel'sainef. In this :mannerthel aligned. cansA of each guide? `channell 3 i delivered' toi the: cart diverting..r unit #95 '-aref depositedinto :theVV can ide-'t liverychute. .I Zifor: I 21,12 respectively,fron1' iwhich:

theyf discharge A`sidewiselin's rolling f processioni; inY

viewgof the inclinationgof the guide rails'll I 5;t `I |62 and II'I andlflandirolllinto a common'canasz" ahwide'rV diameteii 'at portions adj acentA their-dents.

and if 'they-are deposited uponthe-'can' supportingrods I 33l` with' their: widerl'Y diameter ftransverselyl disposed between; the.' rods? theyfmay not. drop' downwardly# between'the samefalthougb the..

flanges of `the -can'srvarein registration with the` grooves :I3'aiidf- |311L Thisi'sdue to the fact-that' the wider di-ameter' of the-V body@ portion' of f. thev dentedcans l may *be-1 larger; than. the distance between adjacent rods |33; V-Such' dented cans re# main therefore supported between adjacent `rods andfare rotated thereby'luntil 'the 'cans'assum'e a' positionv` inl which' their' wi'deriv diameter is no longer located transverseljnbetween adj acentrolls; i, e., thecansare'*disposedrwith theirfnormaldif ameter between adjacent'lrolls vin which position' they will immediatelyfdr'op'downwardly' between' the vrods |33intojthe'can* discharge unit '.I I0;

i Fig.' 7'diagrammatically-illustrates two positions a dented can 1may assnmein which it is supported between-adjacent'rods with its-wider diameter' disposed transverselyv between'the'rods -while the can flanges'. are inregistration with the grooves |35 'and |31. vIn one position thedented'portionf lgllishowninvfull 1in'es)` of the-can may-loe` disposed'ab'ove the'rod :|33 vat the llefth'an'df side of Fig. 7; -in'an'other' position the dented portion IBI (shown in'" dotted lines) may be f disposed above' the rodf|337v at vthe righthand "side: of Fig.' 7.'

' eitherposition the Wider'diameter'is transversely' and thej widerfdi'ameterv of the can adjacent the saine' are turned 'until "they assume" aposition as indicated 'atl l 9811"(in full lines) 'inf'Figi 8 in which the 1 normal diameter ofthe1 can'is transversely disposed'between adjacent rods Iand the'can 'drops downwaralystherebetween; iftnedented-portion of 'the/can is'in a position-as shown in dotted lines at ISI in'FigI ,'l'the'can'is turned until thednted Y portion'is substantiallylinya position'aslshown' in Y dotted lines atl ISIa'in `Fig.k 8" andthe'can is :dis-i; posed` with its normal .'bodyfdiameter 'between ad#A jacent'rods so* that it will discharge-therebetween; l It: isi therefore apparent l that irrespective' of the dented i condition' of' the" cans; the cans di positednponftlie can' aligningvrods'ISS-"are di'sl Ycharged therebetween .f irito'Athecan discharge' interi thescan .'asseinblyf" chute?- I' 'Iwdiereirthe"l agfaoasoo;

aligned; canszare assembled into a:.single' ilerand conveyed Itmanyfdesired;fplaceiof fuserl. i

A.Inthef modied'r structure: disclosed.irrrlF.igz. 9, only-alternate 'can aligningrods |33a are provided: attheirrear'ends :I 4I with sprocketfwheelssl 43?;- whichare ',xedthereto. for rotation; therewith; whilevthefremaining; can/aligning rods' |33Prare. freely; rotatable; Trained around. their sprocket Wheels- M3?l v'and-f :thezzsprocket .wheel |56, `fixed:.tot

: shaft I48,..is :a:A sprocket chain 1 I 5'Ia r"so that upon rotation :.of the` shaft .21| 48 y,and isprocketiwheeli 5B' inzalzmanner'as previously.' describedherein'ionly.. thezcan aligning rods, I 33efare. .positively-'.1 rotated.y toV efectrotation'.: of: theicansisup'ported between the: can.Y aligning.' rods: |33?? and` |331;v while 1in' turn the rotation` cfr-the cans causesrrotatiorbofA that 1 various i changes Y:and Amodiiications'- mayfbe present invention .andi-.thefscope oi the' appended claims..` Y Y Y Y Having thus described 'myY invention' and"1 what' manner thesame4v may beused, what-'I claim and desireto .protectby Letters -Patent is:

l.' Alcan aligning machinevcornprising'an in"-n clined table"providedY with-troughs for receiving'-4 cans in lengthwise position therein, inclined 'par-1 allel rodsv forming continuation's' of said "troughs: meansfor reciprocatirng said table for advancing' the cans-alongV said troughsfandl for discharging-V themupon'saidrods lengthwise therebetween; said rodsl being 4spaced from each otherfa-distance' less than-the' flange diameter of the cans, but' more than the normal body "diameterY of theivcans and being provided with'opposed grooves for registration withthe flanges on the cans, the space inggbetweenopposite grooves being' larger'than the flange"diameter'V of the' cans, wherebyj'the'v cans discharged upon the rods'slide therealong' and discharge there-between upon-,registration of the' flanges ofthe cans" with said-grooves,V meansfor insuring the discharge of 'out of' round cans between said rods comprising'drive;means' associated with said table' reciprocating vmeans for rotating the rods inr a common direction' in; cident to the reciprocation of said table to thereby rotate the out of round cans supported by'said' rods until their normal .diameters are disposed crosswise of" the'rodsA and the cans` discharge there-betweeneupon registration of their flanges with said-grooves.

2. A can discharge device for can handling machines,Y comprising parallel can vsupporting Qrods, means rotatably mounting. said rods in "spaced position' for receiving cans lengthwise. there# between, said rods being spaced fromieach' other a'distance less than the flange diameter.' of'the cans,l but' more than the normal body 'diameter of the cans andrbeing provided with' opposed) grooves vfor registration with the'flang'esfon thfe' cans, the spacing between opposite' groovesbeing larger than the flange diameter'of 'the cans, and' t means for' rotating s ,aidlrodsy in a `common direction' to rotate out'of round Acans supported b'y'said".

rodsiuntil! a@ portion' of f' normal l diameters 'of/fthe' cans is disposed transversely of the rods and the cans discharge there-between when the flanges of the cans are in registration with the grooves of said rods.

3. A can handling machine comprising a tablev over which cans are advanced, a pair of inclined groovech parallel rotatable rods adjacent said table for receiving the cans lengthwise therebetween, said grooved rods being spaced from each other a distance less than the ange diam-d eter of the cans, but more than the normal body diameter of the cans and being provided with opposed grooves for registration with the flanges onv 4. A can discharge device for can handling machines comprising a pair of parallel rotatable can supporting rods provided with opposing grooves and spaced from each other a distance less than the flange diameter of the cans, but more than the normal body diameter of the cans and `being provided with opposed grooves for registration with the flanges on the cans, the spacm ing between opposite grooves being larger than the flange diameter of the cans, and drive means for rotating one of said rods of said pair of rods to rotate an out of round can supported by said rotatable rods until a portion of normal diameter of the can is disposed transversely of the rods and the can discharged there-between when the flanges of the can are in registration with the grooves of said rods, said driven rod being provided with a roughened surface portion to assure rotation of the can in contact therewith.

NEAL S. SELLS. 

